Combination sealing, perforating, and stamping machine



April 8, 1952 c. H. HEIGL 2,591,935

COMBINATION SEALING, PERFORMING, AND STANPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1949 Patented Apr. 8, 1952 COMBINATION SEALING, ,PERFORATENCQ AND STAMPING MACHINE Cyrus H. Heigl, South Beloit, Ill., assigner to Korn Kur-1s Division, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Delaware appucation August 9, 1949, serial No. 109,278 5 claims. (c1. 154-42) Adams Corporation,

This invention relates, generally, to machines for closing containers, and it has particular relation to machines for the heat sealing of moisture proof bags for food stuff and the like.

It is customary to package food stui, such as puffed corn product, pop corn, and the like, in moisture proof bags and to heat seal the ends of the bags so as to preserve the contents and prevent the entrance of moisture. Usually the bags are sealed at one end and then are lled with the food stuff. Thereafter they are sealed at the other end. For display purposes an opening is punched in one end in the sealed area so that the bag can be placed on a pin or the like Where it is in the view of the buying public. It is also desirable to provide a code indication on each bag as to the date of packaging. This facilitates control of the stock and makes it possible to avoid extra long shelf life.

Since food stuit of this nature and the packaging thereof are lhandled on a mass production basis, it is desirable to reduce to a minimum the cost of sealing, perforating, and marking the bags with the code indication of date of packaging.

Accordingly, among the objects of this invention are: To heat seal a moisture proof bag or the like and at the same time to perforate the sealed area and stamp the same with a code indicating the date of packaging; to employl a single operating mechanism for accomplishing these functions simultaneously; to provide a construction that is rugged, has long life, and is unlikely to get out of order; and to arrange the parts so that they can be assembled, changed, and adjusted readily.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more` complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention, reference can be had to the following detailed description, takentogether with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a View, partly in front velevation and partly in section, showing the relatively'movable jaw members and metallic sealing jaws assembled in an automatic machine constructed in accordance with this invention, the operating mechanism being omitted since it forms no part of this invention;

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, but showing the jaw members andsealing jaws in the closed position in engagement with a bag which is to be sealed, perforated and stamped; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an unfilled bag showing how the sealing, perforating and stamping operations are performed thereon.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing it will be noted that the reference character I0 designates, generally,v a combination sealing, perforatingY and stamping machine in which the present invention is embodied. The machine I0 includes a lower stationary jaw member II and an upper movable jaw member I2. It will be understood that any suitable means can be employed for moving the jaw members II and I2 toward and away from each other. For example, they may be moved with a translatory movement or with a slight rotary movement as may be desired. Since the particular mechanism for moving the jaw members II and l2 toward and away from each other forms no part of the present invention, a showing thereof has been omitted.

The jaw members II and i2 carry lower and upper metallic sealing jaws I3 and I4 respectively. The lower sealing jaw I3 may be fastened to the lower jaw member II by bolts I5. The upper sealing jaw I 4 is mounted so as to have slight relative movement with respect to the upper jaw member I2. It is guided with respect to the upper jaw member I2 by means of pins I6 which project therethrough' as shown. Coil compression springs I8 are interposed between the upper movable jaw member I2 and the upper sealing jawld so as to bias them apart while permitting movement toward each other when the sealing operation is performed.

1t will be noted that a hollow die I9 extends upwardly through the lower stationary jaw member II and that it is held fast thereto by means of a nut 2Q. r)The die I9 extends through an opening 2i in the lower sealing jaw I3 and it has a longitudinally extending opening 22 the upper end of which is adapted to receive the lower end of a punch 24 which is threaded into the upper movable jaw member I2 and extends downwardly therethrough and through an .openingV 25 in the upper sealing jaw I 4. A lock nut 26 serves to hold the punch 24 in position on the jaw member I 2.

The sealing jaws I3 and I4 are formed of metal so as to have good heat conductivity. Their opposing faces are grooved so as to provide intimate engagement with the surface of the bag which is to be sealed thereby. In order to heat the sealing jaws I3 and I4 heating elements 21 and 28, respectively, are provided therein and they are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy the supply of which may be automatically controlled so as to maintain the jaws I3 and I4 at a predetermined operating temperature.

With a view to applying the code marking on the food stuff container, stamps 30 are provided in the upper sealing jaw I4. It will be noted that two stamps 30 are provided and that they are located on opposite sides of the punch 24 at equal distances therefrom. The stamps 30 are generally cylindrical and are located in suitable openings in the upper sealing jaw I4. 'I'he positions of the stamps 30 in the sealing jaw I4 may be adjusted by adjusting screws 3| so that the lower faces of the stamps 30 project slightly below the lower surface of the sealing jaw I4.

Locking screws 32 are provided for holding the stamps 30 in the positions to which they have been adjusted by the screws 3 I.

Cooperating with the stamps 30 are anvils 33 which are slidably mounted in the lower sealing jaw I3 in register with the stamps 3U. The anvils 33 are slidably mounted in openings 34 in the sealing jaw and they have stems 35 which project therethrough and are held in position by Cotter keys 36. Coil compression springs 31 positioned around the stems 35 in the openings 34 serve to urge the anvils 33 upwardly so that their upper faces project slightly above the upper surface of the lower sealing jaw I3.

Both the stamps 30 and the anvils 33 are formed of metal so as to provide good heat conductivity and thus provide substantially uniform heat sealing conditions over the entire operating surfaces of the sealing jaws I3 and I4.

In operation the upper jaw member I2 is moved downwardly as indicated by the arrow 38 so that the juxtaposed faces of the sealing jaws I3 and I4 engage the opposite sides of a bag 39 therebetween. At the same time the punch 24 which projects beyond the lower surface of the upper sealing jaw I4 enters the upper end of the longitudinal opening 22 in the die I9 and punches out a section of the bag 39 so as vto form the perforation or opening 40 shown in lFigure 3. Simultaneously with these operations the stamps 30 cause the marks 4I to be made on lthe portion of the bag 39 between the sealing jaws I3 and I4. The heat from the sealing jaws I3 and I4 is suflicient to seal the portion of the bag 39 therebetween so as to form the sealed area Thus in a single operation the bag 30 may be sealed, perforated and stamped in a satisfactory and efficient manner.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without .departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all mattershown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine for perforating, stamping and heat sealing moisture proof bags for food stuff and the like, in combination, a pair of relatively movable jaw members adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, a metallic sealing jaw carried by each jaw member for engaging opposite bag surfaces therebetween under pressure, heating elements in said sealing jaws for maintainingthe same at sealing temperature, a punch carried by one jaw member and extending through the sealing jaw carried thereby, a die carried by the other jaw member and extending through the sealing jaw carried thereby and cooperating with said punch when said jaw members are closed to perforate a bag therebetween, a metallic stamp member carried by one sealing jaw with its face projecting beyond the surface thereof, a metallic anvil slidably mounted in the other sealing jaw with its face adapted to project beyond the surface thereof to register with said stamp member and cooperating therewith when said jaw members are closed to stamp a bag therebetween, and spring means urgingsaid anvil toward said stamp member.

2. In a machine for perforating, stamping and heat sealing moisture proof bags for food stuff and the like, in combination, a pair of relatively movable jaw members adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, a metallic sealing jaw carried by each jaw member for engaging opposite bag surfaces therebetween under pressure, heating elements in said sealing jaws for maintaining the same at sealing temperature, a punch carried by one jaw member and extending through the sealing jaw carried thereby, a die carried by the other jaw member and extending through the sealing jaw carried thereby and cooperating with said punch when said jaw members are closed to perforate a bag therebetween, a metallic stamp member carried by one sealing jaw on each side of said punch with its face projecting beyond the surface thereof, a metallic anvil slidably mounted in the other sealing jaw on each side of said die with its face adapted to project beyond the surface thereof in register with the corresponding stamp member and cooperating therewith when said jaw members are closed to stamp a bag therebetween, and spring means urging each anvil toward its stamp member.

3. In a machine for perforating, stamping and heat sealing moisture proof bags for food stuff and the like, in combination, a pair of relatively movable upper and lower jaw members adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, upper and lower metallic sealing jaws carried by said upper and lower jaw members respectively for engaging the corresponding bag surfaces xtherebetween under pressure, heating elements in said sealing jaws for maintaining the same at sealing temperature, a punch carried by said up-` per jaw member and extending downwardly through the upper sealing jaw carried thereby, a die carried I'by said lower jaw member and extending upwardly through the lower sealing jaw carried thereby and cooperating with said punch when said jaw members are closed to perforate a bag therebetween, a metallic stamp member carried by said upper sealing jaw with its lower face projecting below the under surface of said upper sealing jaw, a metallic anvil slidably mounted in said lower sealing jaw with its upper face adapted to project above the upper surface of said lower sealing jaw in register with said stamp member and cooperating therewith when said jaw members are closed to stamp a bag therebetween, and spring means urging said anvil upwardly.

4. In a machine for perforating, stamping and heat sealing moisture proof bags for food stuff and the like, in combination, a pair of relatively movable upper and lower jaw members adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, upper and lower metallic sealing jaws carried by said upper land lower jaw members respectively for engaging the corresponding bag surfaces therebetween under pressure, heating elements in said sealing jaws for maintaining the same at sealing temperature, a punch carried by said upper jaw member and extending downwardly through the upper sealing jaw carried thereby, a die carried by said lower jaw member and extending upwardly through the lower sealing jaw carried thereby and cooperating with said punch when said jaw members are closed to perforate a bag therebetween, a metallic stamp member carried bysaid upper sealing jaw on each side of said punch with its lower face projecting below the under surface of said upper sealing jaw, a metallic anvil slidably mounted in said lower sealing jaw on each side of said die with its upper face adapted to project above the upper surface of said lower sealing jaw in register with the corresponding stamp member and cooperating therewith when said jaw members are closed to stamp a bag therebetween, and spring means urging each anvil upwardly.

5. In a machine for perforating, stamping and heat sealing moisture proof bags for food stuff and thelike, in combination, a stationary lower jaw member, a movable upper jaw member adapted to be moved toward and away from said lower jaw member, upper and lower metallick sealing jaws carried by said upper and lower jaw members respectively for engaging the corresponding bag surfaces therebetween under pressure, said upper sealing jaw being slidably mounted on said upper jaw member, spring means biasing said upper sealing jaw away from said upper vfffjaw member, heating elements in said sealing ijaws for maintaining the same at sealing temperature, a punch carried by said upper jaw `member and extending downwardly through the upper sealing jaw carried thereby, a die carried 'by said lower jaw member and extending upwardly, through the lower sealing jaw carried thereby land cooperating with said punch when said jaw members are closed to perforate a bag therebetween, a metallic stamp member carried by said i, upper sealing jaw on each side of said punch f with its lower face projecting below the under surface of said upper sealing jaw, a metallic anvil slidably mounted in said lower sealing jaw on each side of said die with its upper face adapted to project above the upper surface of said lower sealing jaw in register with the correspondingstamp member and cooperating therewith when said jaw members are closed to stamp a. lbag therebetween, and spring means urging each anvil upwardly.

CYRUS H. HEIGL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of rcord in the 1. file of this patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 

